Tabulating machine



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@cih25, 1932 ,J. R MERKLE 1,884,072

TABULATING MACHINE Filed March 27, 1926. '8--SheetsSheet 2 56 Jase 5% iP/Ver/Me,

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TABULATING MACHINE Filed March 27, 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 J. R. MERKLE TABULATING? MACHINE Oct. 25, 1932.

Filed March 27, 1 926 8'SheetsSheet 8 9 5 T H 6 Hwl 'h U UH UH fl4 Iran;

OFFICE- J'OSEPH R. MEIRKLE, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T REMINGTON RAND INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE TABULATING MACHINE Application filed March 27, 1926. Serial No. 97,915.

The present invention relates to card-controlled accounting and tabulating machines and more particularly to the automatic selective control of the printing sectors whereby printing of analyzed data either takes place or does not take place in accordance with the results desired.

Some of the objects of the present invention are to provide an automatic selective control for the printing sectors or other printing mechanism of a printing tabulating machine; to provide a mechanism whereby a group of statistical cards unsorted as to group designation can be fed through a printing tabulator, analyzed, and cards of like group designation be separately tabulated and totaled from cards of different group designation, while such cards of diiierent group designation are also tabulated and totaTed; to provide means whereby a plurality of printing control units of a tabulator are arranged to function from the same field of the card being analyzed, selection of the control unit to operate being automatically made by the group designation perforation of the card; to provide means for automatically selecting one of a plurality of printing control units in accordance with a designation control predetermined for the selected unit; to provide means for rendering a lurality of printing control units inoperative by the automatic selection of another unit to operate; to provide means for materially reducing the runs of card groups through a tabulating machine and obtaining the desired result in a minimum of operations; to provide means whereby it is unnecessary to preliminarily sort a group of cards mixed as to certaindata recorded by perforations, and utilizing such means to automatically and sepa-. rately record the respective data with but one run of the cards through the machine; to provide means for tabulating a plurality of record cards differing as to group designation through the medium of a plurality of units each set to respond to a group designation different from the other, all such units responding to the same card field, and providing means for obtaining a cross total reppresenting the sub totals of all the units and a grand total that is a total of cross totals or a total of sub-totals; to provide means for increasing the-flexibility of a card-controlled printing tabulator; and to provide other improvements as will hereinafterappear.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 represents a rear elevation, in part section, of two units and the control parts therefor embodying one form of the present invention; Fig. 2 represents a section taken on a line to the right of the left hand unit in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 represents a section substantially on line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 represents a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 represents a section on line 55 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 represents a rear elevation of one arrangement of the connection box and its relation to the sector control units; Fig. 7 represents a section substantially on line 77 of Fi 6; Fig. 8 represents a side elevation of one orm of selection control cap; Fig. 9 represents a plan of the same; Fig. 10 represents a rear elevation in part section of a modified form of the invention; Fig. 11 represents a form of control cap employed as a modification; Fig.12 represents one arrangement of perforated'record card for illustrating the operation of the present invention; Fig. 13 represents another card for the same purpose; Fig. 14 represents a sectional detail (viewed from the rear) showing the relation of the connection box to the analyzing unit.

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a zero stop projected upon operation of a certain wire contained in the connection box and in the designation row.

. Fig. 16 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the zero stop in its non-operated position after operation of a certain wire in the connection box and designation row. v

A zero stop bar or zero stop is one of the upright bars that form the zero row of stop bars 16 (Figs. 1, 2 and others) and that act on the toothed sectors 17 toprevent them from swinging forward. When a zero stop'is raised (Fig. 15) the sector does not "act, wherefore neither is the register wheel turned nor is the type carrier set for printlng.

The front of the machineis that towards which the gear sectors swing from their normal positions. One of those sectors 17 viewed from the left of the machine is represented in Fig. 2 in its normal position, and when it is No. 1,245,502, to which reference may be had for information concerning details that it is not deemed necessary here to describe.

Generally considered such a machine consists of a reciprocable analyzing unit or pin box 10 (Fig. 14), arranged to contact s'uccessively with-perforated statistical cards 11 and transfer the record of each card to the ma chine for adding and printing operations. This transfer takes place by the projection of those analyzing unit pins 12 which pass through the card perforations against the respective ends of connection wires or setting rods 13 which are contained and vertically movable in a connection box 14 (Figs. 2, 6, 15 and 16). Superposed upon the connection box 14- is a basket 15 containing vertically movable stop bars 16 corresponding in arrangement to the data points on the card, and each transverse row of such stop bars 16 is arranged to control one of a series of rack sectors 17 which respectively control the positioning of the type sectors 18 provided with type 20 for printing purposes. The rack sectors 17 are respectlvely held in in operative. position by heels 21 abutting stops 22 formed respectively on swing shutters 23 extending transversely of the stop basket 15 between the rows of stop bars 16, the shutters being pivoted near their lower edges to the front and rear walls of the basket as indicated at 23, Figs. 1, 2, 15 and 16. One end of each shutter 23 has a projection 24 (Figs.

' 1 and 2) extending through a laterally slidable comb 25 and strip springs 26 engage the respective projections 24 with a tension tending to return and hold the respective shutters 23 in position to maintain the sectors 17 in their inoperative positions. The shutters 23 are individually released by the upward movement of any stop bar 16 of thb adjacent row of stops 16, such pushing aside of the V shutters 23 taking place through engagement of' a cam offset 27 on each stop bar 16 with the shutter. For collective release of all sectors the comb 25 (or combs 25 where the stop basket is split up into a number of separate units) can be shifted to withdraw all the stops 22 from the sector heels 21 as in total taking. Any unit includes, and when there are two or more units each includes, a comb 25 to which is connected a restoring spring 28 (Fig. 1) that is also connected to a fixed stud 28. Two of these springs, which are alike, are illustrated in Fig. 1, that which is contained in the right unit being shown in full lines from end-t0-end, and that which is contained in the left unit being shown partly by full lines and partly by dotted lines, its left end being 'behind the shaft 30 which extends across both units, but only fragments of which are shown in this figure. Movement of a comb 25 as described places the return coil spring 28 under tension so that the comb is restored automatically when free to return.

For causing the comb 25 (or combs 25 since there are generally a plurality of units) to be actuated to release the sectors for total taking, a rock shaft 30, (Figs. 2, 15 and 16), is mounted parallel and in relative close proximity to the back of the top baskets 15 and has an arm 31 fixed thereto at one end by a set screw 31 and arranged to be moved by a link 32 from the total taking operating mechanism. This rock shaft 30 has a spline groove 33 by which certain parts can be adjustably attached to" the shaft 30. These parts comprise a cam faced collar 34, (Figs. 2, 3, 15 and 16), and a stop collar 35, (Figs. 1 and 3), both carried by the shaft 30, the former having a set screw 36, (Figs. 2, 15 and 16) ,located to enter the spline groove 33 and controlled by a knurled laterally disposed arm 37, and the latter having a set screw 38 also entering the spline groove 33. Projecting backward from the comb 25 is a stud 40, (see also Fig. 1), which in operative position of the collar 34 is in the path of its cam faced front portion which is so shaped that when the collar 34 is turned by the shaft 30, which swings the front of the collar downward, the cam faced portion acts on the stud 40 and moves it in a direction paralled to the axis of the shaft 30. In this way motion is transmitted to the comb 25 to release the sectors 17 for total taking. The shutters 23, .comb 25, rock shaft 30 and cam 34 have been in use for many years in Powers tabulating machines and are com prised in the invention which is shown, described and claimed in patent of James Powers, No. 1,236,481, in which the formation, arrangement and mode of operation of each are fully explained. In the present invention the tabulator head is made up of a plurality of stop basket-units and therefore the shaft 30 is provided with a plurality of collars 34 and 35, one of each being opposite each unit. The collars 35 are set on the shaft 30 in such relation to the respective studs 40 as to properly locate the respective cam collars 34. Thus with the collars 35 set in position they serve as stops and any unit which is to be used can be put under control by moving its collar 34 into abutting relation .to a collar 35 and there fastening it to the shaft 3Q by turning set screw 36. Then the adjacent stud 40 will be moved as required when the cam collar acts on it.

If a selected single cam collar, which may i 25 for total taking, provision is made for interconnecting ad acent combs 25' by a setable latch 41 which is pivoted to one comb 25 and has a notched end to engage a pin 42 on the adjacent comb 25. A finger stud 43 projects from the latch 41 for ease in shifting it from one position. to another. Thus two or more combs 25 can be connected together so that the movement of one is transmitted to all.

Each stop collar may remain set indefinitely, whereas a cam collar 34 is set contiguous to or at a short distance from its stop collar to enable it to function or not as may be required. Fig. 3 shows a cam collar in working adjustment. Fig. 1 shows a cam collar (right unit) in working adjustment and another (left unit) not in working adjustment. Comb .25 of the left unit (Fig. 1) may be actuated by comb 25 of the right unit acting on latch 41, or by cam collar 34 of the left unit set contiguous to its stop collar 35.

But when it is desired to print a total or totals with the left unit and not print with the right, the cam collar. of the left unit is set against its stop collar and cam collar of the right unit is moved away from its stop collar. Then the comb of the left unit will be actuated but the comb of the right will not in a total taking operation.

Whether there are five units or a larger or smaller number it may be predetermined, by adjusting components of the described mechanism, that a selected unit or units shall print a total or totals at any total taking op oration.

Since the present invention comprehends causing adding and printing sectors to function for cards of a selected designation control, means are provided for rendering the sectors ineffective when cards of a different designation control are analyzed, and this general idea can be extended so that a plurality of sector units are controlled from the 7 same card field each being rendered operative when a card of proper designation control is analyzed and the remaining units being rendered ineffective because each is controlled by a different designation control. This means for rendering a unit ineffective consists, in the present instance, in interlocking all stops 16 in the zero row through the medium of settable latches 44 which are respectively pivoted to the sides of the zero stops and have lateral projections 45 to respectively seat in notches 46 formed in the respective edges of the adjacent zero stops 16. By this construction all of the zero stops 16 can be set? for movement together or by unlatching any two adjacent stops only certain selected stops will move in unison. If the entire unit is to function on the card field all of the latches 44 will be set while if the unit is to be split so that one part functions on a card field different from the other then the latch at the dividing line of the unit will be unlatched. Considering the entire unit as operating on the same card field all latches 44 will be set as seen in Fig. 1, and when one zero stop 16 is lifted all will be lifted, and consequently the release movement of the sectors 17 will not be beyond the zero position and no adding or tabulation takes place.

In order to cause a zero stop 16 to be lifted when the unit is to be renderedineffective, one of'the zero stops 16, preferably an end one, is provided with a latch in the form of a curved spring 47, (Figs. 2, 15,and 16) which is secured at one end to the stop and has its other end free and projecting into the path of movement of the adjacent restoring bar 48. This bar 48 is one of several such passing between adjacent stop rows and connected to a reciprocating part timed to restore the stops 16 after being set in sector control position. The lower end of the zero stop 16 to which the spring 47 is attached has a pin 49 projecting into the path of a catch 50 formed at one end portion of a reciprocable latch bar 51, this latter being slidably mounted by slots 52 receiving pins 53 which project .respectively from angle brackets 54 of..the connection box 14. A spring55 is fast to one of the brackets 54 and bears at its free end against a shoulder 56 of the bar 51 in order to hold a (Figs. 4 and 5) running at right angles to the zero row of stops. From the foregoing it will be evident that the spring 55 normally holds the latch bar 51 in position wheip its catch 50 engages the pin 49, and this is the position of the parts when the unit is to respond to an analyzing action to set the sectors for printing. When, however, the designation control perforation of the card-changes from that to which the unit is set, provision is necessary of means for releasing the latch bar catch 50 from the pin 49 so that the row of zero stops 16 is free to move upward under the action of the restoring bar 48 against the spring 47.

The means for so releasing the catch 50 consists of a plurality .of lugs 60 projecting laterally from the latch bar 51 and spaced at regular intervals in order that each may be engaged, when desired, by a part of one of the connection box wires 13 of the row below and parallel to the row of lugs 60, such connection wire row being here taken, by way of example, as the designation control row.

In this designation control row the ends of the wires or rods 13 are preferably somewhat shortened to receive control caps 61 each of which has a relatively thin fiat extension 62, (Fig. 8), having an inclined cam face 63 arranged in one position of the cap 61 to travel in a path to intercept the corresponding lug 60 of the latch bar 51 to cause the bar 51 to move to release its catch 50, and in its other position to miss the said corresponding lug 0. By reference to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the control caps 61 for the wires 13, leading from the zero position and next two positions in the designation control column of the card, are set so that when any of these three wires is pushed up to setting position there will be no unlocking of the latch bar 51. All of the other caps 61 of this row'are set to pick up their respective lugs 60, if

caused to operate, to thereby shift the latch bar 51 to release the catch 50 so that the zero 'row of stops 16 are freed to move up and arrest the respective sectors to prevent operment with it in the unit above.

ation of the unit.

In the form of the invention here illustrated byway of examplethe printing control portion of the machine is shown as having five units, A, B, C, D and E (see Fig. 6) and as each is a duplicate of the others the reference numerals in the foregoing description are applied to corresponding parts of the several units. These five units are arranged to be controlled from the same field of the card, namely, the Selling price field of the card shown in Fig. 12 and represented by columns 39 to 45 inclusive and employing column 38 representing the Kind of sale for designation control. A to E inclusive are respectively arranged in superpos cdrelation to groups of the connecting wires 13 like in number and arrange-' ment to the stops 16 except that there are no stops 16 for wires 13 of the designation control row, so that when any wire 13 is lifted by the action of the analyzing unit it will engage and raise the stop 16 in align- Since the five designation control rows of the units are here selectively actuated by the column 38 of the card the five wires 13 corresponding to the zero position of the card column 38are joined to a common wire 64, (Fig. 6),

which projects from the box 14 in operative These units the art.

relation with respect to the analyzing pin for position zero of the card column 38,

these five wires forming branches 6 4' of superposed over the designation column 38 of the card, while the upper portions of branches. 64' of wires 64 form rows in the five units A, B, C, D and E (Fig. 7), these rows being on the right of the latch bars- 51 and being the supports of the five rows of control caps 6162. In like manner each wire 13 of each row of the five groups is connected to four other wires, and the five wires then merge into a common wire above a pin of the analyzing unit. Thus there will be a row of wires 65 each having five branches 65 distributed to operate a stop bar 16 in each-unit, a row of wires 66 each having five branches 66 similarly connected, and also rows of wires 67, 68, 69, 70 and 71, each wire of each such rowha-ving five branches and operating five stop bars severally contained in the five units.

The branches 65 of wires 65, 66 of wires 66, 67 of wires 67, 68 of wires 68, 69 of wires 69, 70 of wires 70, and 71 of wires 71 form respectively. the first, second, third, fourthffifth, sixth and seventh rows shown in Fig. 7 on the left of the latch bars 51 in groups A, B, C, D and E, the first of said rows in each group being nextto the latch bar. In this way a perforation, say 5 in column 42 of the card, will cause an analyzing pin for that perforation to lift the wire (68) with which it-registers and therefore simultaneously lift the five'branches (68) of and is hence operated for every card that 1 controls the separate operation of any one of the groups A, B and C. The group F of wires 13, shown at the right in Fig. 6, is arranged to correspond to the columns 1 to 20 inclusive of the card under consideration and is an alphabetical unit which is operated by every card punched in that field. Such an alphabetical unit is well known in Examples thereof are disclosed in patents to Foster 1,272,528 and Williams 1,274,484, and Lasker application Serial No. 576,992, filed Nov. 23, 1931.

In order to set the adding-printing control units for proper selective operation in accordance with the card of Fig. 12 certain of the caps 61 are positioned so that the lifting of the wires 13 to which they are attached will eeaora not cause the latch bar 51 of the corresponding row to be actuated. Thus with row 38 of the card taken as the designation control, and the selling price field selected as the field for tabulation, unit A is set to respond to that field, when the designation control column is punched for a cash sale, by turning the selection control cap 61 corresponding to the cash sale position so that its cam extension 62 will not intercept the latch bar 51 when the cash sale pin is raised. This position of the cap 61 is shown at c of Fig. 7 while all the remaining caps 61 of the row are turned into the position where the lifting of any one causes the cam face 63 to shift the latch bar 51 in order to release the zero row of stops to lock the sectors from movement. Unit .B is set to respond to the selling price field when the designation control column is punched for a C. O. D. sale, by turning the selection I control cap 61 correspondin to the C. O. D. sale position, as shown at C. D., Fig. 7, and in which position the cam extension 62, when lifted, will not engage the latch bar 51, while all the othercaps 61 of that row are set to engage the latch bar 51 when lifted. Similarly the unit C has its charge position cap 61 set to allow operation of the unit for cards punched in the charge position, and unit D has its Refund position cap 61 set, as shown at R E F, unit D to allow operation of the unit for cards punched in the Refund position ofv the designation control column. Since cash refunds are ordinarily deductible from gross sales the total of unit D is not accumulated with the totals of the other units and consequently unit E has three of its selecting caps 61 turned and set so as not to release the latch bar 51 of unit E when any one of the three is raised. The three caps 61 which are so set correspond respectively to the Cash, C. O. D. and Charge designation position of the units A,- B and C, and when anyone of these units opera es a like operation will take place in unit In other words, unit E accumulates the total of the three units A, B and C butdoes not respond to the operation of unit D or any perforation in the designation'control column 38 other than the three selected for control purposes.

' The operation of this form of the invention is as follows: Assuming the fiveunits A, B, C, D and E are set, as above explained,

- and a card of the kind shown in Fig. 12 is to position their respective sectors for printing the name of the article. If this card has a perforation in the designation control column 38 indicating a cash sale is represented, the analyzing pin passing through this perforation will raise the wire 64 of the cash sale position and with it the five branch wires to the units A, B, C, D and E. As units A and E have their caps 61 set to avoid engagement with the respective latch bars 51, the zero row of stops of these units will remain held against upward movement by the catches and consequently each of these units functions under control of its sector stops 16 in accordance with the per forations in the selling price field. In units B, C and D, however, each control cap 61 in the cash position is set to engage the latch j bars 51 as the pins move up and consequently the catches 50 of these units are released so that the zero rows of stops 16 move up with the restoring bar to bring these zero stops into the path of those sectors which are released by the shutters actuated by the upward movement of the stops 16 of the selling price field. Hence the sectors are held in zero position and there is no tabulation for these units B, C and D for that card. The first card has thus left a record including the name of the article, the selling price printed and accumulated in units A and E, and indicating by the operation of unit A that the card represents a cash sale. Assuming the next card analyzed is a C. O. D. sale, the

designation control pin in the C. O. D. position will lift the wire 64 corresponding to that position and the control caps 61 of units B and E, which are set to move without engaging their adjacent latch bars 51, will permit the catches 50 to remain latched and thereby tabulation of the selling price field will take place in units B and E. The alphabetical unit functions as usual and the result is the printing of the name of the article, the printing of the selling price from units B and E and the adding of this selling price to that already printed from units A and E. The units A, C and D do not function for this card because when the designation control pin for C. O. D. sale of these units if lifted the respective control caps 61 thereof are in position such that the cam extensions 62 shift the latch bars 51 to release the catches 50 and hence while those selling price stops 16 which are actuated by connection wires 13 and pins 12 that pass through the card perforationswill rock the shutters 23, the sectors 17 will not be released for setting purposes because the zero stops 16 have been lifted into the path of the sector heels 21. In this way the tabulation is continued, each card being automatically tabulated upon the unit which is set to respond only to one designation control point, and as a result agmup' of cards, unsorted and mixed as to the designat1on control column, is fed througlr the machine in which cards of like designation. control are accumulated, printed and totaled together, while a sub-total is autbmatically accumulated and printed of the selected field of all of the cards- A total accumulated and printed when the machine is operated as described on a group of cards, provided the comb 25 of each unit is connected to that of the next by a latch 41 and the cam collar of unit A is set "in Working position on shaft 30, is the number printed by unit E at a total-taking operation after the last card of the group has been tabulated, that number being the sum of the items obtained from all cards of the group which record cash sales, and all cards thereof which record a total taking operation cleared the register of the cross totalizing unit, as well as the other registers. Then further tabulating was done and another cross total obtained by a new operation. Finally, the cross totals were added together to get the grand total. But if this machine is put into use when the cam collar 34 of unit E (Figs. 1, 6 and 7) is set on shaft 30 in the position in which collar 34 of the left unit is shown in Fig. 1, and when latch 41 attached to comb 25 of unit E is in the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the other latches and the cam collar of unit A being in their working positions, list after list of items may be added and printed and sub-total after sub-total may be printed by units A, B and C while the same lists of items are being added and printed by unit E, whereas totals .will not then be printed by unit E. Then, in case latch 41 attached to comb of unit E is set in theposition shown by full lines in Fig. 1, immediately before the combs are shifted to provide for the last totaltaking operation, units A, B and C will print totals, which will include the sub-totals printed by those three units, and unit E will simultaneously print the grand total of the totals then printed by said other three-units. Of course, a grand total, of totals printed by a single unit, may also be printed by unit E. Therefore, unit E functions sometimes as a cross totalizer and sometimes as a grand totalizer, and the function may be predetermined by a setting of a latch or latches 41 and a cam collar 34.

Any other unit may be caused to function as does unit E in the above described example. of operations of the machine, i. e. to take and print a grand total'or a cross total, by setting the caps 61 of that unit as the caps of unit E are shown in Fig. 7, and any unit may be caused to function as does A, B, C or D, in that example, by setting its caps 61 as the caps of A or B or C or D are shown in that figure.

Before this invention was made the camcollars of Powers machines were/tightly and permanently afiixed to the total-taking rockshaft 30 at the factory, when they had been accurately adjusted on the shaft, and were not movable by an operator as are\the camcollars which are shown and described herein, and the machines did not contain the latch 41 readily shiftable by an operator to either of two positions, in one of which it transmits actuating force from one shutter-shifting comb to another, and in the other position of which such actuating force is not transmitted by it, so that one unit takes a total while the other is inert. By reference to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, it will be seen that in that illustration there are ten rows of wires 13 and nine rows of rack controlling stops 16. That is, as shown in this application, the first or designation row of wires 13 which carry the adjustable caps do not set stops 16' and do not control any type mechanism. It is obvious, however, that this could be done by constructing the pins 13 and caps for this row so that the caps would lift their stops when in either or both positions and especially when in inefi'ective position with respect to the latch bar 51 so as to print only when its unit is permitted to print.

Figs. 1 and 6 and also Figs. 10 and 11 later referred to show no stops 16 for wires 13 in the designation column. The series of stops 16 shown in Figs. 15 and 16 are the stops of the first one of the numeral rows, i. e., the stops operated by the first series of wires 13 to the left of the wires 13 of the designation row. The designation row wires 13 are branches 64 of wires 64 and the wires 13 of the first numeral row are branches 65' of wires 65.

In Figs. 10 and 11 a modified form of the invention is shown wherein the zero row of I each connection wire unit is utilized and arranged to be used for designation control purposes by having the top ends of this row of wires shorter than the other operating wires of the unit, in order to receive a control cap 72 which when seated over the end of any such shortened wire gives the required length to transmit the movement of the wire to the stop 16 above. The movement of any I wire not so provided with a cap 7 2 will therefore not be transmitted to its corresponding stop 16. Where control is to be had by the use of the caps 7 2 and the machine is likewise equipped with the control bar 51, latch 50,

the bar 51 is locked out by turning the lock piece 57 to the position where it abuts the end of the fixed guide bar 58.

lVhere in either of the forms of the invention here described it is found necessary to provide for the accumulation of an abnormally large total two adjacent units of stops 16' can be connected together to work as one, this being made possible by a bridge element 7 3 which is connected across, as shown in Fig. 10, from the last stop 16 of the zero row of one unit to the first stop 16 of the zero row of the next. When the abnormal total will not require all of the stop rows in the second unit, this latter can be split into two units by unlatching the latch 44 bet ween the two rows where the split is to take place, and in this way the otherwise unused rows of stops 16 are made vailable for use. While reference has been made to combining and splitting of units for an abnormal total, this is only for example and it is to be understood that the latches 44: serve to give flexibility to the unit and allow for many variations in the number of rows of stops 16 according to requirements. y

In describing the operation of the form of the invention shown in Figs. 10 and 11, reference will be had to the card of Fig. 13 of the drawings and it will be assumed that the three fields Cost, Attendant cost and Sales are to be tabulated on three units of the machine and the designation control for each field will be the eleventh and twelfth posilit) tions of a column of each field corresponding to Supported or Non-supported da With the stack of cards mixed as to supported and non-supported data a run of the cards is made with the three fields set for the selected control. Assuming the control selected is forcards perforated in the Supported or eleventh position, the three connect-ion wires 13, leading respectively from the twelfth position of columns 22, 30 and 37 to the zero pins 16 of the first or right hand rowsof the three units, are each fitted with one of the caps 7 2 while the connection wires 13 leading from the eleventh positions to the zero pins of the next or second rows are left without caps. When the caps 7 2 are used to analyze the card in Fig. 13, the connection 73,

Fig. 10, is not employed and another unit is used to the left of the left hand 'unit shown in Fig. 10. The outside units have their zero pins in the first row controlled by a wire operated under control of a perforation in the twelfth position. The central unit has the zero pin in the second row controlled by a wire operated under control of a perforation in the eleventh position. Since the card of Fig. 13 is perforated for Non-supported in the Cost field, the cap 7 2 on that designation control wire 13 will operate through the card and thus cause the zero row of stops 16 to be lifted to render the sectors ineffective for printing control and hence no tabulation of that field will take place. Since the Attendant cost field is perforated for Supported the cap 72 will not operate through the card and consequently this field will be properly tabulated by actuating the stops 16. In the Sales field the Non-supported position is perforated and like the Cost field will not be tabulated because the control cap 7 2 operates through the Non-supported perforation to engage and lift the row of zero pins. Therefore in the analyzing of the card of Fig. 13 the field under the item of Cost will not print because the sectors are automatically locked out by the raising of the zero row of stops 16; and for the same reason the field under the item of Sales will not print; but the field under the item of Attendant cost will be printed because the zero pin having the cap 72 thereon meets an unperforated part of the card and thus prevents the row of zero pins from lifting to sector locking position. Thus for this run of the cards, which are unsorted as to Supported and Non-sup orted data, only those cards designating upported data will be tabulated, but having finished that run the cards for Non-supported data can be tabulated by changing the cap 72 from the wire for the N on-supported or twelfth position to the wire for Supported or eleventh position and thereafter only'cards perforated in the Non-supported position will be automatically selected.

As hereinbefore explained, it may be predetermined that any selected unit or units shall print a total or totals at any total takmg operation, and now it will be understood that it may also be predetermined, by adjustment of components of the described unitselecting means, that any selected unit shall accumulate and print a grand total of accumulations made in another selected unit, or in other selected units whether the number thereof is two or more.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that a complete unitary perforated card-con.- trolled machine has been devised wherein any one of the possible positions of a record card can be selected for designation or other control purposes by using the connection wire operated for that position and providing it with a manually attachable control device.

Thus with such wire selected for control purposes one or more adding units can be caused to functionin a predetermined manner and only to tabulate from cards punched in accord with the set condition of the machine] Where cards are analyzed which are perforated other than for the set condition, the

adding unit sectors are automatically caused to be locked so that such a card is not tabulated. In this way preliminary sorting-operations on a separate machine are reduced to a minimum and under many conditions no preliminary sorting of cards, mixed as to designation, is necessary.

Furthermore by controlling the record dis tribution from a common field on the card, instead of two or more fields as in present day use, there is an increase in the record volume which may be perforated on the cards.

While only two forms are shown in which this invention may be embodied, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to any specific construction,but might be applied to various forms without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a perforated card-controlled machine, a plurality of automatically settable sectors normally locked in inoperative position, a card analyzing unit, stops for positioning said sectors in accordance with the operation of said analyzing unit, means actuated by said stops for releasing said sectors to operative position, and means for preventing operation of the released sectors when cards perforated except in a predetermined control position are analyzed.

2. In a perforated card-controlled machine, a plurality of automatically settable sectors normally locked in inoperative position, a cardanalyzing unit, stops for positioning said sectors in accordance with the operation of said analyzing unit, means actuated by said stops for releasing said sectors to operative position and manually settable means for preventing operation of the released sectors When cards perforated except in a predetermined control position are analyzed. 7 I

'3. In a perforated card-controlled machine, a plurality of automatically settable sectors, normally locked in inoperative position, a card analyzing unit, stops for positioning said sectors in accordance with the operation of said analyzing unit, means actuated by said stops for releasing said sectors to operative position, and settable means for preventing operation of the released sectors for cards perforated in one manner and for '3 allowing said released sectors to function for cards perforated in a different manner.

4. In a perforated card-controlled machine, a plurality of automatically settable sectors, normally locked in inoperative position, a card analyzing unit, stops for positioning said sectors in accordance with the operation of said analyzing unit, means actuated by said stops for releasing said sectors to operative position, and settable means 1' automatically operative to selectively control the operation of released sectors in accordance with the position of control perforations in said cards.

5. In a perforated card-controlled machine, a plurality of automatically settable tion, a card analyzing unit, stops for positioning said sectors in accordance with the operation of said analyzing unit, means actuated by said stops for releasing said sectors to operative position, and means including settable pin extensions for preventing operation of the released sectors when cardsperfo- "rated except in a predetermined control position are analyzed. a

7. In a perforated card-controlled machine, a plurality of automatically settable sectors normally locked in inoperative position, a card analyzing unit, stops for positioning said sectors in accordance with the operation of said analyzing unit, and settable means for selectively controlling connection between said analyzing unit and said stops whereby certain stops will be set and released sectors prevented from operation for analyzed cards perforated in one arrangement-and certain stops will be set and released sectors operate for analyzed cards perforated-in another arrangement.

8. In a perforated card-controlled machine, a plurality of automatically settable sectors normally locked in inoperative position, a card analyzing unit, stops for positioning said sectors in accordance with the operation of said anlyzing unit, and removable caps seating on pins for selectively con trolling connection between said analyzing unit and said stops whereby certain stops will be set and released sectors prevented from operation for analyzed cards perforated in one arrangement and certain stops will be set and released sectors operate for analyzed cards rangement.

9. In a perforated card-controlled machine, a plurality of automatically settable sectors, normally locked in inoperative position, a card analyzing unit, a row of stops in the plane of each sector, means for interlocking the stops of one transverse row of stops, latch means for locking said interlocked row of stops against operation by said analyzing unit, a slidable bar arranged to release said latch means and extending parallel to one longitudinal row of stops, and means interposed between said analyzing unit and said stops for controlling said bar to release said latch means for analyzed cards perforated in another ar-.

perforated in one arrangement and to hold said latch means-latched for analyzed cards perforated in another arrangement, whereby released sectors are held inoperative except 'ing settable cap elements interposed between said analyzing unit and said stops for controlling said bar to release said latch means for analyzed cards perforated in one arrangement and to hold said latch means latched for analyzed cards perforated in another'arrangement, whereby released sectors are held inoperative except for cards perforated in a predetermined manner.

11. In a perforated card-controlled machine, a stop mechanism for control purposes, an analyzing unit, two connection wires or pins interposed between two stops of said stop mechanism and two pins of said analyzing unit but incapable of transmitting motion from said unit to said mechanism, and a part arranged to be attached to either of said wires 35 or pins to transmit motion from the selected analyzing pin to the corresponding, stop whereby said stop mechanism functions only for a predetermined card perforation.

12. In a perforated card-controlled machine, a stop mechanism for control purposes, an analyzing unit, two connection wires or pins interposed between two stops of said stop mechanism and two pins of said analyzing unit but incapable of transmitting motion from said unit to said mechanism, and a cap arranged to be attached to either of said wires or pins to transmit motion from the selected analyzing pin to the corresponding stop whereby said stop mechanism functions only for a predetermined card perforation.

13. In a perforated card-controlled machine, an accounting mechanism, a stop mechamsm for controlling said accounting mechanism, an analyzing unit, two connection wires or pins interposed between two stops of said stop mechanism and two pins of said analyzing unit but incapable of transmitting m0- tion from said unit to said mechanism, a part arranged to be attached to either of said wires or pins to transmit motion from the selected analyzing pin to the corresponding stop, and means actuated by said part for controlling 'said accounting mechanism.

14. In a perforated card-controlled-machine, an accounting mechanism, a stop mech anism for controlling said accounting mechanism, an analyzing unit, two connection wires or pins interposed between two stops of said stop mechanism and two pins of said analyzing unit but incapable of transmitting motion fromsaid unit to said mechanism, a cap arranged to be attached to eitherof said wires or pins to transmit motion from the selected analyzing pin to the corresponding stop, and

means actuated by said cap for controlling sald accounting mechanism.

15. In a perforated card-controlled ma-,

chine, an accounting mechanism, a stop mechanism for controlling said accountmg mechanism, an analyzing unit, two connection wires or pins interposed between two stops of sald 7 stop mechanism and-two pins of said analyzing unit but incapable of transmitting mo-- tion from said unit. to said mechanism, apart arranged to be attached to either of said wires or pins to transmit motion from the selected anaylzing pin to the corresponding stop,

and means actuated by said part for locking said accounting mechanism against operation. .'16. In a perforated card-controlled machine, an accounting mechanism, a stop mechanism for controlling said accounting mechanism, an analyzing unit, two connection wires or pins interposed between two stops of said stop mechanism and two pins of said analyzing unit but incapable .of transmitting motion from said unit to said'mechanism, a cap arranged to be attached to either of said wires or ins to transmit motion from the selected ana yzing pin to the corresponding stop, and means actuated by said cap for locking said accounting mechanism against operation.

17. In a perforated card-controlled machine, a plurality of accounting units, a. stop mechanism for controlling each unit, an analyzing unit arranged to analyze a perforated,

record card, and manually settable means including attachable caps between said analyzing unit and said stop mechanisms for automatically causing certain accounting units to function for cards perforated in one column position and rendering the remaining units inoperative for that position and for automatically causing certain other units to function for cards perforated in another column position and rendering the remaining units inoperative for-that position. i

' 18. In a perforated card-controlled machine, a plurality of accounting units connected to operate from the same field of a perforated record card, a stop mechanism for controlling each unit, an analyzing unit, andingunit'through an unset designation controlposition.

19. In a perforated card-controlled machine, a plurality of accounting units, a stop mechanism for controlling each unit, an analyzing unit arranged to analyze a perforated record card, and a card group designation control means interposed between said analyzing unit and said stop mechanisms for automatically selecting an accounting unit for operation in accordance with the perforation in the designation control column of said card and locking certain other accounting units against operation, said means including devices that transmit to the stop mechanisms controlling force derived from the analyzing unit.

20. In a perforated card-controlled machine, a plurality of accounting units, a stop mechanism for controlling each unit, an analyzing unit arranged to analyze a perforated record card, and manually settable means between said analyzing unit and said stop mechanisms for automatically causing certain accounting units to function for cards perforated in one column position and rendering'the remaining units inoperative for that position and for automatically causing certain other units to function for cards perforated in another column position and rendering the remaining units inoperative for that position, said means including devices each of which is settable in different positions on its support and in different relations to each of the other devices.

21. In a perforated card-controlled machine, a plurality of accounting units connected to operate from the same field of per.- forated record cards, a stop mechanism for controlling each unit, an analyzing unit, and manually settable means controlled from the group designation column of said cards for automatically selecting the accounting unit to be operated by a card, said means including devices that transmit to the stop mechanisms controlling force derived from the analyzing unit.

22. In a perforated card-controlled machine, a plurality of accounting units connected to operate from the same field of perforated record cards, a stop mechanism for controlling each unit, an analyzing unit, and manually settable meazns interposed between said analyzing unit and said stop mechanisms for selectively, operating said units said means including devices that transmit to the stop mechanisms controlling force derived from the analyzing unit.

23. In a perforated card-controlled machine, a plurality of accounting units connected to operate from the same field of perforated record cards, a stop mechanism for controlling each unit, an analyzing unit, and manually settable means interposed between said analyzing unit and said stop mechanisms for causing one or more of said accounting units to, operate for each card analyzed, said means including devices each of which is settable in different positions on its support and in different relations to each of the other devices.

24. The combination of a plurality of accounting units severally comprising synergetic calculating and recording mechamsm,

normally operative means whereby all of said units are controlled by perforations in the same field of record cards, and means controlled by designating perforations for sel'ectively disabling said units, whereby accounting in and recording by certain of said units only, of the items represented by perforations in different cards is made dependent on the designating perforations.

25. The combination of a plurality of accounting units severally comprising synergetic alculating and recording eechanism, normally operative means whereby all of said units are controlled by perforations in the same field of record cards, and means controlled by designating perforations for disabling a unit so that accounting and record ing of the data indicated by the perforations in said field shall be performed only in and by the undisabled unit or units.

26. The combination of three or more accounting units severally comprising synergetic calculating and recording mechanism, normally operative means for controlling said units from perforations in the same field of record cards, and means controlled by designating perforations for selectively disabling one or another of a plurality of units while a different unit remains active, whereby in and by the last mentioned unit is obtained and recorded a grand total of the accountin'gs performed in said plurality of units.

27. The combination of a plurality of accounting units severally comprising synergetic calculating and recording mechanism, normally operative means for controlling said units from perforations in the same field of record cards, a plurality of devices controlled by designating perforations in the cards, and means settable to cause each of the last mentioned devices, when operated, automatically to disable a selected one or more of said units.

28. The combination of a plurality of accounting units severally comprising synergetic calculating and recording mechanism,

'unit controlling means controlled from perforations in the same field of record cards and pertaining to all of said units, and means controlled bydesignating perforations for determining selectively the activity or inactivity of several units to obtain an accounting in which each of a plurality of items is entered in and recorded by two units, one of which acts concomitantly with a plurality of other units and produces a grand total of the accpuntings made in said plurality of other um s.

counting units severally comprising synergetic calculating and recording mechanism, means whereby all of said units may be controlled from perforations in the same field of record cards, and devices controlled by designating perforations and settable variously and relatively to distribute items among the several units according to predetermined schemes each requiring a special setting of said settable devices and one scheme being such that a given item may be entered in one unit or in a selected plurality of units;

31. The combination of three or more accounting units, means whereby all of said units may be controlled from erforations in the same field of record car s, devices controlled by designating perforations and settable variously and relatively to distribute items among the several units according to predetermined schemes, each requiring a special setting of said settable devices and one scheme being such that a given item may be entered in one unit or in a selected plurality of units and that any unit may be selected to produce a grand total of the accountings made in the plurality of other units.

32. The combination of a plurality of accounting and printing units, each comprising a set of totalizer actuators which are also components of the printing mechanism, means whereby all the said units are controlled by perforations inthe same field of record cards, and means for selectivel predetermining the activity and inactivity of the several units in successive operations of the machine under the control of designating perforations, the latter means including settable devices by which the predetermined activity or inactivity of every unit'in any operation is made dependent on 'a single designating hole.

33. The combination of a plurality of accounting units, means whereby all of said units are controlled by designations in the same field of record cards and means for selectively predetermining the activity and inactivity of the several units at successive operations of the machine under the control of designating perforations, the latter means including variously and relatively settable devices by which the predetermined activity or inactivity of every unit in any operation is made dependent on a single designation hole, said devices being settable in different relations and each being settable in different positions.

34. The combination of a plurality of accounting units, means whereby all of said unitsare controlled by perforations in the same field of record cards, and means for selectively predetermining the activity and inactivity of the several units at successive operations of the machine under the control of designating perforations, the latter means including predetermining elements the action of each of which depends ona correlated designating perforation, and means settable to predetermine the activity or inactivity of each of said units whenever any of said elements is actuated.

35. The combination of a plurality of accounting units, means whereby all of said units are controlled from perforations in the same field of record cards, predetermining devices associated with said units for procuring the activity or inactivity of each unit in successive operations of the machine, a plurality of devices controlled by differently placed designating perforations, and means settable to couple any one of the latter devices with any desired one of the said predetermining devices.

36. The combination of several accounting units, means whereby all of said units may be controlled'from perforations in the same field of record cards, and a device controlled by a single designating perforation and including components settable variously and v relatively in different positions to redetermine, that the punched record 0 punched with that designating perforation shall be entered in or excluded from any selected accounting unit or plurality of accounting units. a

37. In'a tabulating machine controlled by perforated cards and including a plurality of accounting units each comprising a set of differential sectors and a row of zero stops and rows of other sector-controlling stops, and a set of latches which act on the sectors and from which the sectors are released by the stops, the combination with one of the rows of zero stops of stop-projecting means that acts a card on all of the stops of the row simultaneously,

for causing them to prevent movement of sectors released from latches.

38. In a card controlled tabulating machine, a plurality of adding and printing units, and total-taking means effective to cause the taking of totals by two or more of the units simultaneously and comprising a connecting device movableby hand-to two positions, in one of which it coacts with components of two units in a total-taking operation in which both of those units take totals and in which the total-taking action of one of the units depends on force transmitted by said device to one of said components from the movable by hand to two positions, in one vof which it coacts with other components of the comb-actuating means in a total-taking o eration in which two of the units take tota s and in which the total-taking action of one of those units depends on force transmitted to its comb by said device, and in the other of which positions of said device it and said components are prevented from coacting when a total is taken by the other unit.

40. In a card controlled tabulating machine, a plurality of adding and printing units, and total-taking means effective to cause the taking of totals by two or more of the units simultaneously and comprising shutter-shifting combs and comb-actuating means, each unit including a comb, and the cumulated and recorded by each of the subtotermining by which subtotalizer items of either of two assortments shall be accumulatedand recorded.

Signed at New York, county of New York,

'talizers, and card-controlled means for de- State of New York, this 25 day of March, a

JOSEPH R. MERKLE.

comb-actuating means including a latch mounted on the comb of one of the units and movable by hand to two positions, in one of which it coacts with the comb of an adjacent unit in total-taking operations in which both of'those units take totals and in which the total-taking action of the unit on which the latch is mounted depends on force transmitted by the latch to the comb of that unit from the comb of the other, and in the other of which positions of the latch it is prevented from coacting with the force-transmitting comb when a total is taken by the unit which contains the latter comb.

'1. The combination of a plurality of acco nting units severally comprising syner-.

getic calculating and printing mechanism, normally operative means for controlling said units from perforations of record-cards, and unit-disabling means controlled by designating perforations and comprising adjustable devices, the disabling of a unit or units depending on :an adjustment of said devices, and the construction and arrangement of elements enabling either of two units to accumulate and record items of a particular assortment and the other to accumulate and record items of another assortment.

42; The combination of three accounting units severally comprising synergetic calculating and printing mechanism, controlling means for causing one of said units to function as a main totalizer and theothers to function as subtotalizers, the main totalizer accumulating'and recording items that are ac- 

